The last days to ship for Christmas 2026 are December 17 to 19 for USPS and December 15 to 24 for FedEx, by service. UPS had not published dates for its individual services when we checked on October 24, 2026.
USPS dates are for delivery before December 25 within the lower 48 states; FedEx dates are for arrival by December 24. Ship earlier for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, military addresses and international destinations. Every date below comes from the carrier's own published schedule.
What is the last day to ship USPS for Christmas 2026?
Ship USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail by Thursday, December 17, Priority Mail by Friday, December 18, and Priority Mail Express by Saturday, December 19.
| Service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thursday, December 17 |
| First-Class Mail | Thursday, December 17 |
| Priority Mail | Friday, December 18 |
| Priority Mail Express | Saturday, December 19 |
For Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories the dates are the same except USPS Ground Advantage, which has no published date and a service expectation of 10 days or more. Military (APO/FPO/DPO) and international shipments have earlier deadlines, from November 4 for USPS Ground Advantage to military addresses to December 16 for Priority Mail Express.All USPS dates, closures and holiday prices are in the USPS holiday schedule.
What is the last day to ship FedEx for Christmas 2026?
FedEx Ground Economy must ship by Tuesday, December 15, and FedEx SameDay can ship as late as Thursday, December 24.
| Service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground Economy | Tuesday, December 15 |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery (5-day transit) | Thursday, December 17 |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery (4-day transit) | Friday, December 18 |
| FedEx Express Saver; Ground and Home Delivery (3-day transit) | Monday, December 21 |
| FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM; Ground and Home Delivery (2-day transit) | Tuesday, December 22 |
| FedEx Overnight services; Ground and Home Delivery (1-day transit) | Wednesday, December 23 |
| FedEx SameDay | Thursday, December 24 |
The transit time of a FedEx Ground shipment depends on the origin and destination ZIP codes. FedEx's closures, freight deadlines and Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico dates are in the FedEx holiday schedule.
What is the last day to ship UPS for Christmas 2026?
UPS had not published its 2026 last days to ship by service when we checked on October 24, 2026. Do not rely on last year's dates; we will add the 2026 UPS dates here when UPS publishes them. UPS closures and Christmas Eve service are in the UPS holiday schedule.
Which days are carriers closed in late 2026?
| Date | USPS | FedEx |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day) | Closed, no regular delivery | Modified service |
| Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving) | Closed, no regular delivery | Closed |
| Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) | Open, regular delivery | Modified service |
| Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) | Closed, no regular delivery | Closed |
| Thursday, December 31 (New Year's Eve) | Open, regular delivery | Modified service |
| Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day) | Closed, no regular delivery | Closed |
Do carriers charge more in peak season?
Yes. USPS applies a temporary holiday price change from October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027 on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. FedEx applies demand surcharges in periods running from late September and October 2026 through January 17, 2027. Compare prices across carriers before you ship with the shipping calculator.
How do you make sure holiday packages arrive on time?
- Ship a few days before the deadline for your service: the dates assume the package is accepted on time.
- Use a staffed location or a scheduled pickup on the last days, since some drop boxes are picked up early on modified-service days.
- Allow extra time for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, military and international addresses.
- Track every package and keep the tracking number until it is delivered.
Shipping for a business this season? Shipixy gives discounted UPS, FedEx and USPS rates with no subscription fees, plus tracking and claims in one platform. Browse more holiday shipping guides or sign up to start shipping.
Sources
All sources were checked on October 24, 2026. Carriers can change their schedules; the official pages below always win.
- USPS: holiday shipping dates
- USPS release: recommended 2026 holiday mailing and shipping dates (September 22, 2026)
- USPS Newsroom: holidays and events
- USPS release: temporary price change for the 2026 holiday shipping season (August 25, 2026)
- FedEx: 2026 shipping deadlines for holiday packages (PDF)
- FedEx: 2026 holiday operations schedule (PDF)
- FedEx: demand surcharges
- UPS: holiday shipping schedule
